Effect of Crop Geometry and Age of Seedlings on Its Growth, Flower Yield and Quality of Statice (Limonium sinuatum L.) under Prayagraj Agro Climatic Conditions

The objective of this study is to find out the most suitable treatments for plant growth and flower yield and quality of Limonium (Limonium sinuatum L.) under prayagraj agro climatic conditions. The study was carried out at Experimental field, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.), India during Rabi season 2021-2022. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with 8 treatments which is replicated thrice. The first factor consists of four different levels age of seedlings i,e. 25,30,35,40 days old seedlings, second factor with two different spacings 45×60 cm and 30×45 cm. In Growth parameters, T7 (40 days seedlings + spacing of 45×60 cm) recorded significantly highest number of leaves (80.49), leaf length (32.20 cm), plant spread (45.65 cm2) Whereas, plant height was recorded significantly highest (84.80 cm) in T6 (35 days seedlings + spacing of 30×45 cm). In photosynthetic characteristics, the maximum leaf area (66.09 cm2), leaf weight (24.94 gm) and chlorophyll content (97.90 SPAD UNITS) was recorded in T7 (40 days seedlings + spacing 45×60 cm). In flowering parameters, the minimum number of days for flower stalk initiation (47.28 days) and flower duration (45.72 days) was recorded significantly in T7 (40 days seedlings + spacing of 45×60 cm) whereas, the length of flower stalk was recorded significantly highest (80.07) in T6 (35 days seedlings + spacing of 30×45 cm).The maximum yield with superior quality of flower stalks/plot was obtained significantly highest (80.22) in T6 (35 days seedlings + spacing of 30×45 cm). In post-harvest parameters the vase life of statice flower placed in water recorded maximum (8.69 days) in T6 (35 days seedlings + spacing 30x45 cm), whereas vase life of statice flower placed in 2% sucrose (14.35 days) and self-life (63.33 days) of flower was recorded maximum in T7 (40 days seedlings + spacing of 45x60 cm).